Gas-manufacturing apparatus.



No. 774,430. PATENTED NOV. 8, 190A.

- 0. R. INGHAM.

GAS MANUFACTURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED 315F123 1903.

N0 MODEL. I 8 SHEETS-SHEET 1,

No. 774,430. PATENTED NOV. 8, 1904.

' C. R. INGHAM.

GAS MANUFACTURING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, 1903.

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i mgfi w I UNITED STATES Patented November 8, 1904'. E

PATENT @FFICE.

GAS-MANUFACTURING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 774,430, dated November8, 1-904.

Application filed September 23,1903. Serial No. 174,250. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. INGHAM, av citizen of the United States,residing at Suffern, Rockland county, and State of New York, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Gas-ManufacturingApparatus, of which the following is a specification sufiicient toenable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains tomake and use the same.

The invention consists, primarily, in the special construction of theretorts used in the apparatus, each retort being formed entirely of aplurality of pipes of small but uniform diameter situated and connectedtogether directly within its furnace, the pipes being filled looselywith fragmentary refractory material whereby a single long tortuouspassage of practically uniform area in cross-section is produced inwhich the refractory material is evenly and highly heated, therefractory material in the center being as hot as that in contact withthe sides of the piping.

My invention also includes certain features in the construction andarrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed specifically.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a sectional view taken on thehorizontal plane 1 1, Fig. 2, showing the essential parts of myapparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation taken upon plane ofline 2 2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the mixer. F ig. A is avertical section ofthe decomposingfurnace upon plane of line 4 4, Fig.1, showing the retort-pipes, &c., in elevation. Fig. 5 is a sectionalview, upon an enlarged scale, of a portion of the retort-piping.

The walls a a of the primary furnace A and the walls b of the secondaryfurnace B are built of any suitable refractory material and of any shapedesired. Both furnaces may be heated by any means which may be foundexpedient. Oil or gas burners a and 7) are shown symbolically in thedrawings;' but it is obvious'th'at the source of heat and the mode ofapplication are of minor impor* tance.

Situated in the primary furnace A is a superheating-retort C, consistingof a series of pipes C C of small diameter, connected to- "of theretort.

gether so as to form Within the furnace one long continuous conduit ofpractically the same area in cross-section throughout,'said pipes C Cand their connecting-elbows C C being loosely filled with a packing ofirregular-shaped fragmentary refractory mation-chamber A communicateswith the space.

8 between the inner and outer w'alls of the furnace, which space 8surrounds the combustion-chamber a and by conducting the proclucts ofcombustion downward to the exits maintains a high degree of heat withinthe combustion-chamber c thereby insuring a uniform temperaturethroughout the retortpipes C C.

Retort-pipes C C and connecting-elbows C C of small diameter incross-section are purposely chosen to form the continuoussuperheating-retort C in order that the filling of fragmentaryrefractory material 0 may become thoroughly and uniformly heatedthroughout. In other words, it is essential in my invention that therefractory material in the center of the pipes C C and connections C 0shall be as hot as that in contact with the sides of the pipe in orderto insure the best and most economical results, and this I attain by theuse of pipes so small in diameter that the passage of the steam cannotcool off the refractory material in the center of the pipes, as would bethe case were pipes, of relatively large diameter used in the formationIt is this feature of close and intimate contact of a relatively smallnarrow line or column of fragmentary refractory material with the sidesof the retort-pipes of comparatively small diameter that distinguishesmy invention from the prior state of the art and enables me to attainpractical ad- I the chamber m.

vantages in the manufacture of gas in a commercial sense. Anotherfeature of importance in this connection is the use of a plurality ofpipes and connections of practically uniform diameter to form acontinuous retort of great length entirely within the primary furnace,so that a maximum of heating-surface for the steam forced through theretort is attained with a practically uniform temperature from one endof the retort to the other.

I have found by actual experience that various refractory materials maybe used with like results, the object being not to effect chemicalreaction therewith, but simply to retard the passage of the stream andinsure a tortuous passage therefor over highlyheated surfaces of uniformtemperature, resulting from the relatively small area of theretort-pipes in cross-section, said pipes in practice being seam-weldedand of extra thickness to preserve their integrity in the intense heatto which they are subjected. I have thus used as a loose filling for theretort-pipes 0 and connections 0 0 cast-iron, porcelain, ajax metal,fire-brick, and other broken and irregular refractory material withoutdetecting any material change in the nature of the gas produced. I havefound by actual experiment and continuous use that good and satisfactoryresults may be economically attained by making the retort-pipes 0' 0 andconnections 0 0 of wrought-iron and filling them with refractorymaterial 0, consisting of broken cast-iron, which latter may be heatedto nearly its meltingpoint (say 2,800 Fahrenheit) without danger to thewrought-iron pipes 0 0 and connections 0 0 which have a highermelting-point, (say 2,960 Fahrenheit.) This enables rne to superheat thesteam to a relatively high degree before introducing it into thehydrocarbon in the mixing-chamber M. I do not, however, restrict myselfto the use of wrought cast-iron pipes 0 0 and connections (J 0 since theuse of iron pipes is practicable provided the temperature is not raisedto the melting-point of cast-iron. \Vhen castiron pipes and connectionsare thus used, they may be filled with any desired or suitablerefractory material 0 of the requisite degree of coarseness and surface.

Steam under pressure from any source is admitted through the valve 0' tothe series of retort-pipes 0 0 its tortuous passage therein over theirregular surface of the refractory material a superheating it to arelatively high degree before it passes out through the exitpipe 0 tothe mixer M. The mixer M consists of an injector m, and chamber m. Theend of the pipe 0 is contracted to form a nozzle within the cross-headIt, which is connected by means of the pipe H with a source of supply ofliquid or gaseous hydrocarbon, which is drawn by the superheated steamescaping under pressure from the nozzle 0 into The chamber at ispreferably elongated, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and itsexit (2 is near the inlet 5, so that the superheated steam injected fromthe retort-pipes 0, together with the induced supply of hydrocarbon,have to work back against the blast from the nozzle before the resultingadmixture can escape through the said exit 6', thereby insuring aneffectual combination in both a mechanical and chemical sense of thesuperheated steam and the hydrocarbons.

While I do not confine myself to the use of any particular form or gradeof hydrocarbon,

. either fluid or gaseous, I will cite, by way of illustration, the useof what is commercially known as gas-oil, consisting, substantially, ofninety-eight per cent. hydrocarbon and two per cent. of coke or othersolid residuum. I then have, as a result of the superheated steampassing from the nozzle 0 under pressure and in a highly-heated andnascent condition, carbonic acid, (002,) 7.8; oxygen, (0,) 1.6; carbonmonoxid,(00,) 15.8; nitrogen,(N,) 11.6: ethylene, (CZH 0.0; methane,(0Hi,) 0.0; hydrogen, (H,) 58.2; total, one hundred. These in a nascentcondition impinging upon and breaking up the above-named gas-oil resultin carbonic acid, (002,) 1A0; oxygen, (0,) two; carbon monoxid, (00,)3.80; nitrogen, (N,) 8.60; ethylene, (02Hi,) 18.60; methane, (0H4)27.20; hydrogen, (H,) 38.40; total, one hundred, which may be fixed intoan illuminating-gas by passing it through a retort R in the secondaryfurnace B. The chemical reactions take place within the inlet andmixing-chamher at, and the succeeding superheating when resorted to issimply for the purpose of preventing subsequent condensation byreduction of temperature and to insure a permanent dry gas forilluminating purposes. The resulting fuel-gas may be conducted through.the valve f (the valve o being closed) and pipe f to any desired point.If, however, it is desired to convert the gas into a fixedilluminating-gas, the valvef is closed and the valve o opened, admittingthe gas from the mixer M, through the pipe 0), into the retort-coil R inthe furnace B. The retort-coil R is packed with refractory material inthe same manner as are the retort-pipes 0 0 and connections 0 C and inits passage through the coil R the gas is fixed to be afterward purifiedand treated in the manner well known. The retort-coil R is heated in anydesired or well-known manner, the gas-burner 6 being shown symbolicallyto represent any well-known expedient.

It will be seen that by my apparatus I am enabled to carry on themanufacture of either fuel or illuminating gas continuously and toregulate the relative proportion of hydrocarbon present in the resultantgas with accuracy by means of a valve it or other suitable mechanicalexpedient interposed in the pipe H between the mixer M and the source ofsupply of hydrocarbon.

the pipes G C and connections 0 O in the superheatingretort 0, since itinsures the thorough superheating of the steam and its introduction in anascent state into the mixer M in the most favorable conditon foradmixture and combination with the hydrocarbon. That there are certainpractical advantages in the use of a retort C, substantially such asshown in the drawings, consisting of a series of pipes C C andconnections C 0 united within the furnace to form a continuous passageof relatively great length as compared with the area of the passage incross-section, I have demonstrated by actual and continuous trial andexperiment, since I thereby attain and maintain the maximum temperaturein the center of the conduit, as well as at the sides thereof, while thelong, narrow, and tortuous passage, of practically uniform widththroughout, afiords a high degree of resistance to the passage of thesteam and crowds it into intimate contact with the fragmentaryrefractory material, so that it is economically superheated into ahighly-nascent condition. Thus in practice I have found that steamintroduced into the retort C at one hundred pounds pressure could bemade to encounter such resistance in the retort-pipes C G andconnections C C owing to the numerous bends in the retort as a whole, aswell as to the presence of the highly-heated surfaces of refractorymaterial 0, that the higlily-superheated steam thus attained would enterthe mixer M at a pressure approximately of twenty-five pounds only. Itwill thus be seen that the smallness in area in cross-section of myretort-pipes C and connections O is an important factor in my invention,since I thereby insure an even temperature within the retort and avoidthe possibility of a central area of lesser temperatu re through whichthe steam might pass, while by the use of a suitable number of pipes C,connected together to form a single retort, I can attain any desiredlength of passage and heating-surface entirely within the furnace, therepeated doubling of the conduit or retort as a whole increasing theresistance to be overcome and afifording a maximum of length of conduitwithin the minimum of space.

hat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In gas apparatus, the combination of a furnace, a steam-superheatingretort consisting of a plurality of pipes of small diameter connectedtogether and situated entirely \vith in said furnace and filled looselywith fragmentary refractory material so as to afford a single continuouslong narrow tortuous conduit within the furnace of practically uniformarea 1n cross-section throughout, for the passage of steam introducedunder pressure into the retort, a mixer, having means for forcing thegas generated therein to work back against the pressure of the incomingsteam and hydrocarbon before escaping from the mixer, means forintroducing a supply of hydrocarbon into said mixer, means for causingthe superheated steam from the said retort to impinge upon thehydrocarbon introduced into the mixer, and means for drawing off theresultant gas from the mixer.

2. In gas apparatus the combination of a furnace, a steam-superheatingretort consisting of a plurality of pipes of small diameter connectedtogether and situated entirely within said furnace and filled looselywith fragmentary refractory material so as to afford a single continuouslong narrow tortuous conduit Within the furnace of practically uniformarea in cross-section throughout, for the passage of steam introducedunder pressure into the retort, a mixer, means for introducing a supplyof hydrocarbon into said mixer, means for causing the superheated steamfrom the said retort to impinge upon the hydrocarbon introduced into themixer, means for drawing off the resultant gas from the mixer, havingmeans for forcing the gas generated therein to Work back against thepressure of the incoming steam and hydrocarbon before escaping from themixer and means for fixing the said gas to convert it intoilluminatinggas.

3. In gas apparatus the combination of a furnace, a steam-superheatingretort consisting of a plurality of pipes of small diameter connectedtogether and situated entirely within said furnace and filled looselywith fragmentary refractory material so as to afford a single continuouslong narrow tortuous conduit Within the furnace of practically uniformarea in cross-section throughout, for the passage of steam introducedunder pressure into the retort, a mixer formed with an elongatedmixing-chamber having an outlet in proximity to its inlet, so that thegas generated in the chamber has to work back against the pressure ofthe incoming steam and hydrocarbon in order to escape from'the mixer,means for introducing a supply of hydrocarbon into said mixing-chamber,means for causing't'he superheated steam from said retort to impingeupon the hydrocarbon as it is introduced into the mixing-chamber, andmeans for drawing off the resultant gas from the mixer.

4:. In 'gas apparatus the combination of a furnace,a steamsuperheatingretort consistsage of steam introduced under pressure into the retort, amixer formed Withan elongated IIO mixing-chamber having an outlet inproximity to its inlet so that the gas generated in the chamber has towork back against the pressure of the incoming steam and hydrocarbon inorder to escape from the mixer, means for introducing a supply ofhydrocarbon into said mixing-chamber, means for causing the superheatedsteam from said retort to impinge upon the hydrocarbon as it isintroduced into the mixing-chamber, means for drawing off the resultantgas from the mixer, and means for fixing the said gas to convert it intoan illuminating-gas.

5. In gas apparatus, the combination of a primary furnace, asteam-superheating retort in said primary furnace consisting of aplurality of relatively long narrow pipes connected together andsituated entirely within the combustion-chamber of the said primaryfurnace and filled loosely with fragmentary refractory material so as toform a single continuous long narrow tortuous passage within the furnaceof practically uniform area in cross-section throughout, for the passageof the steam introduced under pressure into the retort, a mixer, meansfor introducing a supply of hydrocarbon into said mixer, means forcausing the gas generated therein to work back against the pressure ofthe incoming steam and hydrocarbon before escaping from themixing-chamber, means for causing the superheated steam from the retortto impinge upon the hydrocarbon introduced into the mixer, means fordrawing off the resultant gas and transferring it to a retort in asecondary furnace, said secondary furnace, and said retort in thesecondary furnace consisting of a plurality of pipes of small diameterconnected together within the combustion-chamber of the secondaryfurnace and filled loosely with fragmentary refractory material to forma single long tortuous passage in which the gas is fixed into anilluminating-gas, together with means for withdrawing the resultantilluminating-gas from said secondary retort.

6. In gas apparatus the combination of a furnace, a steam-superheatingretort consisting of a plurality of pipes of small diameter connectedtogether and situated entirely within said furnace and filled looselywith fragmentary refractory material so as to afford a single continuouslong narrow tortuous conduit within the furnace of practically uniformarea in cross-section throughout, for the passage of steam introducedunder pressure in the retort, a mixer, formed with an elongatedmixing-chamber having an outlet in proximity to its inlet for thepurpose described, means for introducing a supply of hydrocarbon intosaid elongated mixingchamber, means for regulating the supply ofhydrocarbon thus introduced, means for causing the superheated steamfrom the retort to impinge upon the hydrocarbon as it is introduced intosaid elongated mixing-chamber, and means for drawing off the resultantgas from said mixer.

7. In gas apparatus, the combination of a furnace, at steam-superheatingretort consisting of a plurality of wrought-iron pipes of small diameterconnected together and situated entirely within said furnace and filledloosely with fragmentary cast-iron so as to afford a single continuouslong narrow tortuous conduit within the furnace of practically uniformarea in cross-section throughout, for the passage of steam introducedunder pressure into the retort, a mixer formed with an elongatedchamber'with outlet in proximity to its inlet, means for introducing asupply of hydrocarbon into said mixer, means for causing the superheatedsteam from said retort to impinge upon the hydrocarbon introduced intothe mixer, and means for drawing off the resultant gas from the mixer.

8. In gas apparatus, the combination of a furnace, a steamsuperheatingretort within said furnace consisting of a plurality of relatively longnarrow pipes of small but substantially uniform diameter incross-section connected together and situated entirely within the saidfurnace and filled loosely with fragmentary refractory material to forma single long tortuous passage of a prescribed width within the furnacefor steam introduced under pressure into the retort, a mixer formed withan elongated chamber with outlet in proximity to its inlet, means forintroducing a supply of hydrocarbon into said mixer, means for causingthe superheated steam from the retort to impinge upon the hydrocarbonintroduced into the mixer, and means for drawing off the resultant gasfrom the mixer.

9. in gas apparatus, the combination of a furnace formed with acombustion-chamber surrounded by an outer wall between which and thewall of the combustion-chamber is formed a space for the passage of theproducts .of combustion, a steam-superheating rctort Within saidcombustion-chamber consisting of a plurality of pipes of small diameterconnected together and situated entirely within said combustion-chamberand filled loosely with fragmentary refractory material so as to afforda single continuous long narrow tortuous conduit within thecombustion-chamber of practically uniform area in cross-sectionthroughout, for the passage of steam introduced under pressure into theretort, a mixer formed with an elongated chamber having outlet inproximity to its inlet, means for introducing a supply of hydrocarboninto said mixer, .means for causing superheated steam from the retort toimpinge upon the hydrocarbon introduced into the mixer, and means fordrawing off the resultant gas from said mixer.

10. The combination of the series of retortpipes G, 0, connections C (f,filled with irregular refraotory material 0, means for introducing steaminto said retort-pipes, means for heating said retort-pipes, the mixerM, formed with the nozzle for injecting superheated steam from theretort-pipes C, G, into the elongated chamber 077/, forming a part ofsaid mixer M, said chamber 171, formed with the exit a, near the inlet2', the pipe H, for supplying hydrocarbon to the mixer, and the valve h,for regulating the supply of hydrocarbon for the purpose set forth.

11. In gas apparatus,the combination of the furnace A formed With thecombustion-chamber A, surrounded by the space 8, for the passage of theproducts of combustion, the retort C formed of the pipes O, C andconnections C C of small diameter situated entirely Within thecombustion-chamber and filled With fragmentary refractory material 0,the pipe 0 and nozzle 0 for introducing superheated steam from theretort G into the mixer M, said mixer M formed With an elongated chamberhaving outlet in proximity to its inlet, and the pipe H, cross-head it,and pipe 0 for introducing hydrocarbon into the mixer, together withmeans for drawing off the resultant gas from the mixer.

12. In gas apparatus the combination of the primary furnace A, theretort C therein formed of a plurality of long pipes C, and connectionsC of small diameter united together Within the furnace A to form acontinuous passage filled With fragmentary refractory 1 material, themixer M formed with an elongated chamber with outlet in proximity to itsinlet, means for introducing hydrocarbon into the same, means forinjecting superheated steam from the retort G into the hydrocarbon as itis introduced into the mixer M, the exitpipe 6, the valve 7, the pipe f,the valve o, and pipe n, the secondary furnace B, and the retort Rtherein consisting of a plurality of pipes of small'diameter connectedtogether Within said furnace and filled loosely With fragmentaryrefractory material for the purpose set forth.

13. In a gas apparatus, a mixer comprising an elongated chamber havingan outlet near one end, the other end being closed, an injector at theoutlet end, means for introducing a supply of hydrocarbon into saidchamber, means for introducing superheated steam into said chamber toimpinge against the hydrocarbon.

14. In a gas apparatus, a mixer comprising an elongated chamber havingan inlet and an outlet at the same end, means for supplying hydrocarbon,means for supplying superheated steam, and an injector, the said supplymeans being disposed at angles to each other, as and for the purposespecified.

CHARLES R. INGHAM.

